This episode has so reviews on this site, and I think that says it all. This episode is quite unfortunately forgotten. It's not my favorite by any means, but I think it's good enough to at least be remembered every now and then.
"Neptune's Spatula" introduces us to a character that sometimes I wonder if we were supposed to see more of, King Neptune! I don't really feel one way or the other about the guy, though he is pretty funny and I love his dramatics. I also find it hilarious that he's so self-absorbed, a perfect parody of a god if you ask me. Also, it's just funny to me that technically Bikini Bottom (or all of the sea?) has a king, but Bikini Bottomites surely do not live like you'd expect them to in a monarchy. Is Bikini Bottom (or all of the sea) a constitutional monarchy? What's really going on here? I demand an episode that delves into the complexities of the government of this land (or sea, I guess)!
Anyway, I think this is a fun episode, if a bit underwhelming. While it's not exactly dull, there is a constant feeling that I have watching this episode of "this episode could have done more with what it had". Do I know what exactly that is? No, but that's just how I feel. Maybe it's the jokes. They don't hit so hard in "Neptune's Spatula", for the most part that is. The bartering scene between Neptune and Patrick is undoubtedly hilarious, and the showering gag gets me every time (they just had Tom Kenny doing all kinds of crazy stuff in season 1, didn't they?).
I think the main problem of this episode it that it takes a bit too long to get to the actual cook-off, and then the cook-off ends so underwhelmnigly. Maybe it would've been better if it was like the Fry Cook Games, where it was Neptune and SpongeBob competing in multiple culinary-related competitions? I'm not sure. It really doesn't bother me all that much, so I'm not going to think too deeply about it.
SpongeBob is cute as per usual this episode, and his making of the singular Krabby Patty was so cute. Though I wonder why he didn't use his "Help Wanted" patty cooking powers haha. Maybe that all came from the spatula. Also the ending of this episode is pretty funny.
This episode sits firmly in my "Good" tier because even though it's a bit underwhelming, I still quite enjoy it. Don't really rewatch it though, which always loses points in my book.
Episode Tier: Good
Episode Score: 7.8/10